St. Paul Preparatory School (SPP) is a private high school located in the heart of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was established in 2003 as the first school in the Nacel International School System. SPP delivers a unique educational experience to students from the Twin Cities and from over 24 countries around the world. Small class sizes allow for challenging individualized learning within a diverse educational environment. SPP is an NCA accredited, college preparatory school enrolling students in grades 9 through 12.

Mission

St. Paul Preparatory School prepares our international student body for success in a global society by offering a college preparatory education, comprehensive English language instruction and cultural exchange opportunities.

School Overview

St. Paul Preparatory School offers students a unique educational experience through every facet of our program. Students come to SPP to prepare for their futures while learning more about the world, and ultimately themselves.

Our curriculum provides students with quality, college preparatory academics and enrichment through the arts and physical education. Our classes are taught from a culturally relativistic perspective and take advantage of the wealth of diversity within our student body. Through our course offerings, we meet the educational needs of a wide range of students from those with limited English ability to those requiring substantial academic rigor. As an added benefit, Advanced Placement courses are offered in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies.

SPP teachers share a passion for working with students from around the world. Our small classes allow us to provide students with individualized instruction. The majority of our faculty members hold a Master’s degree or higher, and many have professional career experience beyond the classroom. We truly care about the well-being of our students and offer them a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which to learn.

We seek to provide students with opportunities for the development of self-awareness, social consciousness, leadership skills and creativity through our enrichment activities, clubs and study abroad program. We also recognize the importance of providing our students with an enjoyable and memorable high school experience, and promote positive interaction through field trips, dances and other social events. Students are encouraged to take an active role in shaping the culture and climate of SPP, ensuring that it is a comfortable place to grow and learn.

Location

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are located on opposite banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Together, the metropolitan area is home to approximately 2.8 million people. The cities are known as the cultural center of the upper Midwest and are home to countless artistic, recreational, and educational opportunities. Residents enjoy the conveniences of urban city life in a beautiful, natural setting. Lakes, parks, and riverside trails are abundant throughout the metropolitan area.

Twin Cities area attractions

• Mall of America (the largest mall in America)
• Minneapolis Institute of Arts (the premier art museum of the upper-Midwest)
• Walker Art Center (the newly remodeled contemporary art center that is now one of the largest contemporary institutes in the US)
• Science Museum of Minnesota and Imax Theater
• Minnesota Zoo and Imax Theater
• Mississippi River and many local parks, lakes, nature preserve areas
• Valleyfair Amusement Park
• Numerous professional orchestras, theaters, and opera and dance companies
• Fine dining restaurants and shopping
• Countless outdoor recreational activities

The Twin Cities are also home to many professional sports teams including the Minnesota Vikings (football), Timberwolves and Lynx (men’s and women’s basketball), Twins (baseball), Swarm (lacrosse) and Wild (ice hockey). A center of industry and technology, the headquarters of many multi-national corporations are located throughout the metropolitan area including Target, Cargill, 3M, General Mills, Medtronic, Lawson and Best Buy.

SPP is located in St. Paul, the capital city of the state of Minnesota. The climate in spring, summer and fall is generally mild. The winter can be cold and snowy, but residents enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, snowshoeing and ice fishing during these months.

Visit the websites of our sister schools and branches:

• St. Paul Preparatory School (formerly known as Nacel International School) in Minnesota
• St. Paul American School, Beijing, China
• St. Paul American School, Guangzhou, China
• St. Paul American School at Shangde Experimental School, Shanghai, China
• St. Paul American Christian School, Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines
• Notre Dame International High School, Paris, France
• St. Paul Preparatory School in Seoul, South Korea
• International School of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
• Vietnam American International School, Hanoi, Vietnam